Are you tired of always saying “I like music” or “I enjoy reading”? Let’s level up your English with the right hobbies vocabulary and express your interest with confidence! In this guide, you’ll find 100+ essential words and phrases, plus collocations, idioms, and phrasal verbs to talk about your hobbies and interests like a native speaker.
Hobbies Vocabulary by Sub-Topic
To make learning easier, we’ve grouped hobbies vocabulary into clear sub-topics. Whether you love music, sports, or crafts, you’ll find the right words to talk about your interests with ease.
1. Creative & Artistic Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Sketch |
A quick or rough drawing |
| Paint |
Apply color to a surface |
| Watercolor |
Water-based paint |
| Acrylic |
Fast-drying paint |
| Canvas |
Surface for painting |
| Easel |
Stand that holds the canvas |
| Palette |
Tray for mixing paints |
| Brush |
Tool used to apply paint |
| Sculpture |
3D artwork made from materials |
| Calligraphy |
Decorative handwriting |
| Doodle |
Simple, spontaneous drawing |
| Handcraft |
Item made by hand |
2. Photography & Videography Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Camera |
Device for taking photos |
| Lens |
Focuses the image |
| Shutter |
Controls exposure time |
| Exposure |
Light that reaches the camera sensor |
| Filter |
Effects added to photos |
| Tripod |
Three-legged camera stand |
| Focus |
Make the image sharp |
| Zoom |
Make object appear closer |
| Composition |
Arrangement in a photo |
| Snapshot |
Quick informal photo |
| Portrait |
Photo of a person |
| Landscape |
Photo of natural scenery |
3. Mindfulness & Self-Care Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Meditation |
Practice of focused relaxation |
| Journaling |
Writing personal thoughts |
| Breathing |
Inhaling/exhaling to relax |
| Yoga |
Stretching and mindfulness exercise |
| Visualization |
Mental image of goals |
| Gratitude |
Feeling of thankfulness |
| Stretching |
Extending muscles |
| Mindfulness |
Being present in the moment |
| Reflection |
Deep thinking |
| Calm App |
App used for relaxation practices |
4. DIY & Crafting Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Knitting |
Creating fabric with needles and yarn |
| Sewing |
Joining fabric with thread |
| Crocheting |
Looping yarn using a hook |
| Embroidery |
Decorating fabric with stitches |
| Origami |
Paper folding |
| Glue |
Adhesive for materials |
| Yarn |
Long thread for knitting |
| Stitch |
Single loop of thread |
| Thread |
Thin string used in sewing |
| Pattern |
Guide or template for creation |
5. Tech & Digital Hobbies Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Gaming |
Playing video games |
| Blogging |
Writing regularly online |
| Coding |
Writing computer programs |
| Streaming |
Broadcasting live video/audio |
| Podcasting |
Producing audio content |
| Editing |
Adjusting digital content |
| Animation |
Creating motion graphics |
| App |
Software application |
| Console |
Gaming device |
| Design |
Visual arrangement and creation |
6. Sports & Fitness Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Running |
Moving quickly on foot |
| Workout |
Exercise session |
| Push-ups |
Bodyweight exercise |
| Stretching |
Lengthening muscles |
| Warm-up |
Prepare the body for exercise |
| Cardio |
Heart-healthy exercises |
| Gym |
Place to work out |
| Team |
Group of players |
| Strength training |
Muscle-building activity |
| Yoga |
Flexibility and mindfulness practice |
7. Cooking & Baking Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Recipe |
Instructions to make a dish |
| Bake |
Cook using an oven |
| Fry |
Cook in hot oil |
| Stir |
Mix using a spoon |
| Boil |
Heat liquid until bubbles form |
| Seasoning |
Spices added for flavor |
| Oven |
Device for baking and roasting |
| Homemade |
Made at home |
| Chop |
Cut into small pieces |
| Sauté |
Lightly fry in a small amount of oil |
8. Outdoor Activities Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Hiking |
Walking in nature |
| Camping |
Sleeping outdoors in tents |
| Fishing |
Catching fish as a hobby |
| Surfing |
Riding waves on a board |
| Cycling |
Riding a bicycle |
| Climbing |
Going up a rock or wall |
| Stargazing |
Looking at stars |
| Nature walk |
Casual walk outdoors |
| Birdwatching |
Observing birds |
| Backpacking |
Traveling with a backpack |
9. Travel & Exploration Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Itinerary |
Travel plan |
| Backpacking |
Budget-style travel |
| Road trip |
Travel by car |
| Destination |
Place you’re going to |
| Explore |
Discover new places |
| Culture |
Beliefs and practices of a place |
| Souvenir |
A keepsake from travel |
| Local cuisine |
Traditional food |
| Landmark |
Famous place |
| Adventure |
Exciting experience |
10. Music & Performing Arts Hobbies Vocabulary
| Vocabulary |
Meaning |
| Guitar |
String instrument |
| Piano |
Keyboard instrument |
| Band |
Group of musicians |
| Sing |
Use voice to produce music |
| Lyrics |
Words in a song |
| Tune |
Melody |
| Performance |
Live show |
| Instrument |
Device that makes music |
| Harmony |
Blending of musical notes |
| Jam session |
Informal music playing |
Use Collocation as Hobbies Vocabulary
Want to sound more like a native speaker? Using the right collocations can make your English smoother and more natural. Here are some common word combinations you can use to talk about your hobbies with confidence.
| Collocation |
Example Sentence |
| Take up a hobby |
I took up photography during lockdown. |
| Be into (something) |
I’m really into baking these days. |
| Join a club |
I joined a local painting club last month. |
| Learn a new skill |
I love learning new skills like crocheting. |
| Practice regularly |
I practice piano regularly to improve. |
| Watch tutorials |
I watch YouTube tutorials to learn new recipes. |
Phrasal Verb Related to Hobbies
Phrasal verbs are a big part of everyday English, especially when talking about hobbies. Here are some fun and useful ones to help you describe what you do in your free time more naturally.
| Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
| Take up |
Start a new hobby |
| Chill out |
Relax |
| Try out |
Test or experiment |
| Work on |
Improve or practice something |
| Pick up |
Learn informally |
| Get into |
Become interested in |
| Set up |
Prepare for an activity |
Idioms to Talk About Hobbies
Idioms add color and personality to your English. Want to sound more fluent when talking about your hobbies? These common idioms will help you express your passions in a fun and natural way.
| Idiom |
Meaning |
| “Get the creative juices flowing” |
Start being creative |
| “Piece of cake” |
Something very easy |
| “A breath of fresh air” |
A pleasant change |
| “In the zone” |
Fully focused on an activity |
| “March to the beat of your own drum” |
Do things your own way |
| “Out in the wild” |
Outdoors, in nature |
10+ Useful Expressions to Talk About Hobbies
Talking about your hobbies doesn’t have to be boring or repetitive. Instead of always saying “I like…”, try these 10+ useful expressions to sound more natural and fluent in English. They’ll help you share your interests with style and confidence!
| Expression |
Use Case |
| I’m really into… |
Talking about your passion |
| I’ve recently taken up… |
New hobby |
| I spend most of my free time… |
Regular habit |
| I unwind by… |
Relaxation activity |
| It helps me clear my mind |
Mental benefit |
| It keeps me in shape |
Physical benefit |
| I’ve been doing it for years |
Long-term interest |
| I do it on weekends |
Frequency |
| It’s a great way to… |
Benefit |
| I got into it through… |
How you started |
Talking about your hobbies is a great way to connect with others, and now you’ve got the right words to do it! But hobbies are just one piece of the puzzle. With GuruLango, you can explore vocabulary for every topic, from daily life to work, travel, and beyond.
